Dual Junior World Champion Sam Welsford has made a successful
start in the senior ranks. Welsford's two junior world titles
have come in the team pursuit but it is bunch races where
Welsford really excels. A silver medallist in the omnium at
Junior Worlds last year and on the podium in the Madison the
previous year.

Moving from the junior to senior ranks is often a challenge
for even the best of riders. Going from facing riders within a
two-three year age range to suddenly facing people who could
be 10 years older and with a decade of experience opens a new
challenge. "It has been tough but I think the juniors that
have moved up last year really like a fierce race and racing
people that are stronger than us," said Welsford. "We prefer a
harder race because we are used to that as juniors where it is
always full gas.

"You come up to the seniors where is it just as hard but even
more competitive. It's awesome," added Welsford who is
relishing the challenge of racing some of the top riders in
the world.

Just out of the junior ranks Welsford joined a young
Australian team for the opening World Cup of the 2014/15 track
season in Guadalajara. Not only did Welsford debut in the
Green and Gold but claimed his first gold medal. "It was
surreal going to my first World Cup and getting a gold medal
with two World Champions Glenn O'Shea and Miles Scotson was
pretty unreal."

In Qualifying Glenn O'Shea's experience helped the team to
qualifying fastest but in round one and the final it was the
'Teenage Team Pursuit' squad. Junior World Champions Welsford,
Dan Fitter and Alex Porter joined with senior World Champion
Miles Scotson posted a time of three minutes and 55 second in
both round one and the final to win gold. "We trained pretty
hard and to go 3:55 was pretty awesome.

"We heard the average age of 18.5 and we were all amazed by
that, as we didn't know. We looked back at that and thought wow
that was a pretty big accomplishment when we are all 18 year
olds."

To further his development Welsford was selected to ride the
omnium at the final World Cup of the season in Cali. "I
actually got pretty sick at the Cali World Cup for the
omnium," revealed Welsford. "It was really competitive with so
many guys that were so close to each other, the omnium was
really though."

With the final World Cup finishing just ahead of the
Australian Track Championships at the end of January those
competing are often not at their best for nationals. "I wasn't
on that great of form coming from the Cali World Cup," said
Welsford.

Despite a field including the likes of Glenn O'Shea, Alex
Edmondson, Miles Scotson and Scott Law, Welsford was in
contention. "I surprised myself in the points race. I took a
few laps with Glenn and a few others and one late lap in the
end with Glenn and Miles and that jumped me to second and
silver."

Proving his combination of speed and endurance even at 19 he
can be contending with some of the best in the world. Welsford
added a second silver medal to his tally on the final day of
competition in the scratch race. "I was actually pretty stoked
to get silver in that."

Just as important as the medals and results is the confidence
younger riders can take from early success. "Yeah you can
obviously take a bit of confidence," explained Welsford. "You
can tell yourself you can do it and not be so scared that the
big senior guys.

"They are quick and fast but you have to look at them as just
any other opponent."

After racing and securing a number of top 10 finishes in early
season NRS events on the road it was back to the boards for
the International Track Series Adelaide last week. "I would
have liked to be on the podium," said Welsford after a fourth
place finish in the first omnium. "But I am here to collect
UCI points for the World Cups and fourth has put me in a good
place and I have a few points now."

From here Welsford heads to Europe for some racing with his
Junior World Championship teammates from 2014 Dan Fitter,
Callum Scotson and Alex Porter. The team will be racing some
kermesses in Belgium for a month before heading to Italy for
the Fiorenzuola track meet. "I'm looking forward that, I
haven't been to Europe before so I'm going to learn how to
ride over there."

After a month in Europe Welsford and the rest of the team head
across to North America for a further camp with the rest of
the Australian High Performance track team.